Signal Cable Digital HC and Magic Power Cables
Reviewer: Shane Mattson
Review Period: 12/15/05-->12/31/05
Product Description:
Custom manufactured audio/video cables available direct from the manufacture via the Internet.
About Signal Cable:
Everything you want to know about the company can be found here.
Evaluation System
Meridian 565Z3 (Software version 6.2a) Surround Processor/Preamplifier
Denon DVD-2900 Universal Player outputting 480i to processor
TAW ROCK+ Video Processor
Mirage OM-C2 Center Channel
Mirage M3-si Loudspeakers
Parasound HALO A 21 amplifier
Citation 7.1 multi-channel amplifier
TMC Gold Reference speaker cables
PS Audio Xtreme Statement single-ended Interconnects between 565 and A 21
Wireworld Gold Starlight 5 digital coax interconnect between 2900 and 565Z3.
Specifications:
M
P
C
10 AWG 3 conductor twisted design
High purity stranded copper for maximum conductivity
Premium grade jacket provides excellent resistance to abrasion, water, oil
UL listed and CSA certified
Temperature range: -40ø C to +90ø C
Voltage rating: 300-600 volts
Max. Amps @ 120V: 30A
Price: $59.00 for 3 feet, each additional foot $4.00
Digital HC Power Cable
12 AWG 3 conductor twisted design
High purity stranded copper for maximum conductivity
Copper braid + foil double shield
Teflon insulation + Teflon outer jacket
UL listed and CSA certified
Voltage rating: 300 volts
Max. Amps @ 120V: 30A
Price: $69.00 for 3 feet, each additional foot $6.00
First Impression:
Signal Cable designs and manufactures high performance, relatively low-cost cables for
audio/video enthusiasts and the two power cables featured in this review are part of the Signal
Cable Classic product line. They also offer higher priced, ultra premium cables as part of their
Silver Resolution product line.
I am very impressed with the quality of craftsmanship put into the Magic and Digital HC power
cables. Both cables look stunning, each wrapped in an attractive colored mesh with heat shrink
tubing wrapped around the IEC connector and plug. The Magic and Digital HC power cables
are so attractive that I actually prefer their appearance over the latest version of PS Audio's
Xtreme power cables. Although the two reviewed power cables are a bit stiff, they are easily
bendable and should accommodate most installation configurations.
Over the past 15 years I have evaluated a countless number of audio/video products. With
each new component I've tried to break the habit of listening with a predetermined bias. It's
hard not to get sucked into all of the marketing hype out there...especially after exposure to one
hyped advertisement and review after another from a manufactures web site or a/v enthusiast
publication. I constantly remind myself that all of that print advertising as well as the use of
fancy packaging material comes at a price...to you, the consumer! I was very pleased to find
that Signal Cable does not inflate their prices to cover the frivolous cost of elaborate packing
materials. The review samples arrived individually packed in zip-lock bags, placed in a no frills
shipping container. For Signal Cable to survive in this competitive cable market they must take
a profit somewhere, and they do it by selling the customer a tangible, useable product that does
not include a flashy box or fancy velvet cable bag! How the flashy box or velvet cable bag
improves the sonic performance of cables is unexplainable, however maybe they have a role in
at least triggering the placebo affect!
Test Method:
There isn't a whole lot of science behind power cable design. In fact there's hardly any science
involved in reviewing power cables either! It is very difficult to switch back and forth between
cables since the equipment must first be turned off, cables swapped and then the equipment
powered back on. Also, let's not forget that there is some time involved in getting yourself
situated back into the listening chair to begin/continue with the evaluation. Humans have
approximately 6 seconds of hearing memory; therefore if a cable change cannot be made within
6 seconds from the A test it's extremely difficult to identify a quantifiable difference from test B,
especially if the difference is subtle. What is the best way to evaluate a power cable you ask? I
prefer to connect stock power cables to all system components and then listen for a few days to
become familiar with the sound. Next, I'll begin replacing the stock power cables with the
premium cables one at a time, documenting the (if any) sonic differences.
Using the above test method for this review, I listened to my system with the stock cables
installed between a PS Audio Ultimate Outlet (UO) and wall outlet as well as between the
source components and UO for a few days. The sound of my system in this configuration was
noticeably thinner with less of the upper mid-range richness I had become accustomed to
hearing when using the previously installed PS Audio Xtreme power cables. This was a strange
sonic phenomenon. I had previously become so accustomed to hearing my system with the PS
Audio power cables that the degradation of sound with the stock power cables was tangibly
shocking.
Performance Summary:
Audio:
I started the performance review of the Signal Cable power cables by replacing the stock cable
between a PS Audio Ultimate Outlet and the wall outlet with a Signal Cable Magic Power cable.
I kept the stock power cables installed between the Ultimate Outlet and the source components:
a Meridian 565 and Denon 2900.
I fired up a redbook CD and could not believe what I was hearing. The mid-range richness was
back and microdynamics were less attenuated adding to the sweetness I was used to hearing
with the much more expensive PS Audio cables. The difference with the Signal Cable Magic
power cable was so obvious that I did not have to strain or try to convince myself I was hearing
an improvement. Next, I replaced the remaining stock power cables between the source
components and Ultimate Outlet with the Signal Cable Digital HC cables. I sat back in the chair
and proceeded to play the same track that was just sampled. The sound was about the same
but had an ever so slight improvement in the mid-range, bass definition and dynamics. If
anything, the system seemed to resolve a bit better but the difference was nowhere near as
pronounced as it had been when I installed the first Signal Cable Magic power cable between
the Ultimate Outlet and the wall outlet.
Next, I bypassed the Ultimate Outlet and connected the Meridian 565 and Denon 2900 directly
to the wall outlet using the Signal Cable Digital HC cables. There was a noticeable degradation
of sound (slightly less full sounding mid-range and reduced dynamics) when bypassing the
Ultimate Outlet however the Signal Cable Digital HC power cables sounded much better than
the stock cables in this configuration. I think the lesson to be learned here is that there is no
substitute for good AC noise filtering used in conjunction with well made power cables.
For my own satisfaction I re-connected the stock power cable between the Ultimate Outlet and
the wall outlet and the sound of my system changed back to the thin, less involving sonic
character I became accustomed to hearing when running all of the stock power cables for a few
days prior to the review. I cannot explain why there is such a noticeable difference between
power cables. If the cable gauge, capacitance and resistance are all within a manufactures
specifications for use with a particular component, why then is there a quantifiable difference in
sonics when using a custom manufactured premium power cable? Why aren't all manufactures
of components including an upgraded cord with their equipment? I guess if that were the case
there wouldn't be a market for premium cables and great companies like Signal Cable would fail
to exist. Point of interest: Velodyne includes a Signal Cable Magic power cable with their
$15,000 Signature 1812 subwoofer.
Video:
My TAW Rock+ processor and Sony HD200 satellite receiver are connected to a second PS
Audio Ultimate Outlet. I replaced the stock power cable between the second Ultimate Outlet
and the wall outlet with a Signal Cable Magic power cable and noticed an overall increase in
color vibrancy and image detail with a slight reduction of video signal noise from the two video
components. The Denon 2900 also looked noticeably richer in color and detail with the Signal
Cable Digital HC cable installed. While the improvements in video were not nearly as dramatic
as the sonics, I strongly believe that video components can greatly benefit from an upgraded
power cable.
Final Thoughts:
I am so impressed with the performance of the Signal Cable power cables that I've decided to
part ways with all of my expensive PS Audio power cables in exchange for the identically
performing lower cost Signal Cable products. For the price and performance you simply cannot
do much better than Signal Cable. Highly Recommended!
For more information visit www.signalcable.com .
Happy Listening!
Shane Mattson
Founder, Soundreproduction.com